Audiobook Sample

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  • Title: Tempest
  • Author: William Shakespeare
  • Narrator: Various Readers
  • Length: 02:03:00
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 01/01/2011
  • Publisher: Speak the Speech
  • Genre: Drama, Shakespeare
  • ISBN13: SABFAB9780693
Dear fellow explorers of the literary cosmos,

There’s something undeniably enchanting about diving into Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” through the medium of an audiobook, especially when it’s a full-cast performance narrated by Various Readers and offered as a free download from Speak the Speech. As I settled into this listening experience, I was immediately struck by the way sound amplifies the play’s magic – how the rustle of wind and the crash of waves seem to leap out of the speakers, pulling you onto Prospero’s tempest-tossed island. What fascinates me most is how this audiobook transforms a 400-year-old text into a living, breathing narrative that feels as immediate as a storm breaking overhead.

Through a cultural lens, “The Tempest” has always held a special place in my heart, not least because of a memory from my time as a visiting professor in Tokyo. One rainy afternoon, I found myself in a small bookshop near Shibuya, thumbing through a bilingual edition of Shakespeare’s works. The Japanese translation of “The Tempest” carried a raw, poetic weight – Prospero’s incantations felt like haiku imbued with power, while Caliban’s earthy rage echoed the primal tones of Noh theater. Listening to this audiobook brought that moment rushing back: the interplay of language and sound, the way a story can shift depending on how it’s told. Here, the full-cast narration does something similar, layering voices to create a tapestry that’s both Shakespearean and strikingly modern.

The play itself, written around 1610-1611, is a marvel of thematic richness. At its core, it’s about magic and power – Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, wields his sorcery like a playwright directing his actors, conjuring a storm to bring his enemies to his shores. But it’s also a meditation on revenge and forgiveness, as Prospero moves from orchestrating retribution to embracing reconciliation. Then there’s the thread of colonialism, woven through Caliban’s subjugation and Ariel’s servitude, which resonates with the historical context of European expansion. This audiobook experience highlights these themes beautifully, with the varied voices giving each character a distinct presence – Prospero’s gravitas, Ariel’s ethereal lightness, and Caliban’s guttural defiance all shine through.

The narration by Various Readers is a triumph. A full-cast performance is a bold choice for Shakespeare, and here it pays off handsomely. Prospero’s lines, delivered with a measured intensity, feel like a conductor’s baton guiding the chaos, while Miranda’s innocence carries a tender clarity that cuts through the storm. Ariel’s voice dances like a melody, and Caliban’s snarls ground the play in its raw, earthy undercurrents. The audio quality is crisp, with sound effects – howling winds, distant thunder – enhancing the drama without overwhelming the dialogue. At just over two hours, the duration is perfect for a single, immersive sitting, though I found myself replaying scenes to savor the interplay of voices.

That said, no production is flawless. At times, the pacing feels rushed, particularly in quieter moments where Shakespeare’s language begs for a slower unfurling. The lack of individual narrator credits also left me curious about who brought these characters to life – a minor frustration for someone like me, who geeks out over such details. Still, these are small quibbles in an otherwise stellar free audiobook offering.

This reminds me of when I taught a seminar at Berkeley on how different mediums shape storytelling. We once dissected “Cloud Atlas” across its book, ebook, and audiobook forms, marveling at how each version reframed the narrative. “The Tempest” in this audio format feels akin to that – a shift in perspective that reveals new facets. Compared to, say, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, with its whimsical magic, or “Hamlet”, with its brooding revenge, “The Tempest” stands apart for its blend of spectacle and introspection. The audiobook amplifies this uniqueness, making Prospero’s final renunciation of magic – a possible nod to Shakespeare’s own farewell to the stage – feel both personal and universal.

For potential listeners, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves Shakespearean drama or craves an audiobook experience that’s both accessible and profound. It’s perfect for students diving into the text, theater buffs seeking a fresh take, or anyone who simply wants to lose themselves in a storm of sound and story. The fact that it’s free only sweetens the deal – there’s a democratic beauty in making such a classic available to all.

Reflecting on this, I’m struck by how “The Tempest” mirrors my own journey with literature – its storms and calms, its power to connect across cultures and centuries. Listening to this audiobook felt like sitting in that Tokyo bookshop again, rain pattering outside, the world of the play unfolding in my hands – or, in this case, my ears. It’s a reminder of why I fell in love with stories in the first place: their ability to transform, to transport, to teach.

With appreciation for the tales that bind us,
Prof. Emily Chen